As characterized by Hycrete Technologies CEO David Rosenberg, “Hycrete is an easy-to-use, water-based concrete additive that improves concrete wear with respect to corrosion resistance and reduction of water penetration.”

An environmentally safe solution for the protection of concrete that can be used both as an admixture in new construction and as a spray-on product for post-construction applications, he adds, it was developed on the basis of extensive technical research as well as exhaustive laboratory and field testing. The admixture's performance in slowing the breakdown of concrete structures is achieved by offering dual protection as both an anti-corrosive and a waterproofing agent. Hycrete's active ingredients are designed to be highly soluble in water to allow for optimal dispersion.

The solution, which has been noted to resemble a light beer in color and smell like rum, is reactive with metals and minerals found in concrete, such as iron and calcium, to form a water-insoluble metallic salt. Rather than crystalline, this newly formed material has the properties of a fatty acid; as such, one end of the molecule has a long hydrocarbon chain and repels water, making the concrete hydrophic. Similar to how oil repels water, Hycrete fills the capillaries in concrete, repelling water and eliminating absorption. Polar in nature, the other end of the molecule bonds to polar particles. In reinforced concrete, therefore, the polar end of the Hycrete molecule attaches itself to the steel reinforcement, which acts like a large magnet, forming a monomolecular layer of protection. The attendant level of protection has been verified and quantified in government-sponsored examinations of cracked concrete specimens demonstrating zero corrosion.

Previously used in a variety of cast-in-place bridge decks in New Jersey and Kansas as well as precast applications in Ohio and Connecticut, Hycrete is currently part of several department of transportation-sponsored pilot projects throughout the U.S. The agent has also be the subject of 10 years of comparative testing conducted and sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and state DOTs. When tested against “belt and suspender” combinations of multiple protection technologies, such as calcium nitrite corrosion inhibitors and pozzolans like silica fume, Hycrete excelled in preventing both water transport and corrosion after years of chloride ponding tests.

Beyond corrosion control, company officials note, Hycrete helps owners, designers and contractors meet environmental certifications and goals. Specifically, the admixture has zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and has achieved a Platinum Cradle to Cradle certification — the highest measure of environmental sensitivity as tested by MBDC, an independent material consultancy firm specializing in evaluation and certification of materials' ability to meet sustainability criteria. Cradle to Cradle is the newest standard of (U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) LEED certification. Other important environmental benefits include the overall reduction of life-cycle costs and extended useful life of structures incorporating the technology. — www.hycrete.com